Lock



E. W. NORTH Dec. 5, 1933.

LOCK

Original Filed Dec. 15, 1930" Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES LOCK Edwin w. North, Rockford, 111., assignor to National Lock 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Original application December 15, 1930, Serial 502,266. Divided and this application February 27, 1933. Serial No. 658,681

2 Claims. (01. 70-46) This invention relates to locking mechanisms, this application being a division of my copending application Serial No. 502,266 for Locks, filed December 15, 1930.

In a look upon a cedar chest or similar container, it is preferable to have a lock that is dust proof and-air tight to some degree. It is the purpose of this invention, therefore, to provide a lock which is for all practical purposes air sealed and which may be economically and readily manufactured in quantities, which is simple in construction and which involvesrelatively few parts.

In accordance with this invention a lock of the barrel type is provided and means incorporated therewith for closing the key slot to seal the lock.

A better understanding of this invention will be had from the following description given in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through the center of a lock embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the plunger or barrel, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the barrel.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the entire locking mechanism is housed within a casing or shell 1 which has a central depressed portion enclosed by a cover plate 5. A cylinder 6 is riveted to cover plate and constitutes a support for a plunger or key barrel '7. The outer end of the cylinder is spun over as at 8 to engage the outer reduced end 9 of the plunger to retain the plunger within the cylinder. Plunger '7 is also provided with a reduced inner end 10 which engages an aperture in the wall of shell 1 whereby the plunger is supported for reciprocal and axial movements.

Plunger 7 is slotted as at 35 in the usual manner to receive a key which, when inserted and turned, will align the tumblers in the usual manner to prevent locking or unlocking of the lock. In order to seal the lock to prevent the free passage of air and dust therethrough by way of the key slot, the latter is provided with a sealing member in the form of a spring shutter. This shutter automatically hermetically closes the key slot and accordingly the lock by spanning the key slot upon withdrawal of the key. The shutter comprises a U-shaped leaf spring 3'? having its cross bar or center portion disposed across the key slot to close the latter, and its two legs disposed in slots cut in the plunger. To insure positive sealing contact of the shutter in the key slot the plunger is also provided with a small transverse bore leading into the key slot and within which is a coiled compression spring 38. Spring 38 bears against shutter 3'7 and resiliently urges the same against the side wall of the key slot to hermetically seal the same.

It is obvious that modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a lock, a key barrel having a longitudinal slotted keyway, a sealing member having a portion disposed in said keyway normally completely closing and sealing the same, said portion having an inclined cam surface to be struck by a key for opening the keyway, a pair of slots positioned transversely of the keyway, and legs on said sealing member extending into said slots, and means for normally urging the sealing member into sealing position.

2. In a lock, a key barrel having a longitudinally positioned keyway, a sealing member normally positioned in said keyway to seal the same completely internally of said barrel, the keyway sealing portion of said member having an inclined cam surface upon which an inserted key may ride for forcing said member out of sealing position, means normally urgingsaid member into sealing position, and means for retaining said sealing member in the key barrel but free for said operative movements.

EDWIN W. NORTH. 

